From the end of April to October, atmospheric nostalgic public transport services run in Budapest every weekend. You can still catch them in 2026,

Budapest has an unusual way of bringing its transport history back to life. During the spring, summer and autumn months, beautifully restored historic trams, buses and trolleybuses leave their depots and return to the city streets, allowing visitors to experience Budapest aboard vehicles that once formed part of everyday life.

This weekend, September 19–20, Budapest’s Car-Free Weekend offers a chance to see and ride historic public-transport vehicles. On Saturday, passengers can travel on the 2624 heritage tram, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year. On Sunday, the programme expands to include the 436 heritage tram, the 3720 “Bengáli” tram, various historic Ikarus buses, and a vintage trolleybus. The vehicles will be part of the Car-Free Weekend programme around Vámház körút, Szabadság Bridge, Fővám tér and Műegyetem rakpart, with the event running from 10am to 10pm.

A vintage tram along the Danube

For visitors, one of the most attractive options is the N2 heritage tram, which runs along the Pest side of the Danube. The route passes some of Budapest’s most famous sights, including the Parliament, the city’s bridges and views towards Buda Castle and Gellért Hill.

The experience is particularly appealing because the journey itself becomes part of the sightseeing. Instead of simply taking a tram to get somewhere, you can sit inside a historic vehicle while the Budapest skyline unfolds outside the windows. The N2 operates regularly during the heritage season, although the exact historic vehicle used can vary from one day to another.

The N19 offers a different perspective, following the Buda side of the river. Its route takes passengers past historic buildings, baths, market halls, parks and bridges, while also providing access to attractions such as the Buda Castle Funicular around Clark Ádám tér.

More than just trams

Budapest’s heritage fleet is not limited to the classic yellow trams. The N4 heritage bus crosses the city between Zugló and the Buda Hills, passing sights including the Budapest Zoo, Heroes’ Square, the Opera House and the Chain Bridge before reaching the area around the Zugliget Chairlift. Classic Ikarus buses operate on the route during the season.

There are also occasional heritage trolleybuses and special services using unusual historic vehicles. The programme changes throughout the season, meaning that different weekends can offer quite different vehicles and routes. In September 2026, for example, the scheduled programme includes several types of historic trams, Ikarus buses, a vintage trolleybus and even a historic cogwheel railway vehicle.

Another option is the N18, a heritage tram route connecting the Buda Hills with the city and continuing towards Kelenföld. Its route passes through areas including Városmajor, the Buda riverfront and Bartók Béla út.

For an especially distinctive sightseeing experience, the N109 heritage bus offers a central Budapest route, with the possibility of travelling in an open-top cabriolet bus when the weather is suitable.

For a complete list of BKK's historic vehicle park, we suggest you check out their dedicated page.

Vintage or retro?

It is worth knowing that BKK distinguishes between heritage and retro services. Heritage services use historically significant vehicles preserved as part of Budapest’s transport heritage, while retro services use older vehicles that may no longer be part of normal daily operation or are now rarely seen on the streets.

The difference also matters when buying a ticket. Heritage services require a special heritage-service ticket, while retro vehicles can generally be used with normal BKK fares.

How much does it cost?

A heritage-service single ticket currently costs HUF 600 and is valid for one uninterrupted journey on a heritage vehicle. A heritage-service daily travelcard costs HUF 2,400 and allows travel on the heritage services operating that day. Tickets can be purchased through the BudapestGO app, at BKK customer service centres and ticket offices, or from staff on the heritage vehicles.

The exact timetable and vehicle are important to check before setting out, as special vehicles operate on particular dates rather than every service using the same historic tram or bus. BKK publishes the current timetable and vehicle information on its heritage-transport page.

For tourists, these services offer something that a conventional sightseeing tour cannot quite replicate: you are not simply looking at Budapest’s history, but travelling through the city in a piece of it.